Spanner wrench



Nov. 13, 1962 N. w. BERNOR ETAL 3,063,315

SPANNER WRENCH Filed June 23, .1960

INVENTORS IVA-2 son/{(550110 BY Par 5 A706?- A TTOP/VEY United States Patent Q 3,063,315 SPANNER WRENCH Nelson W. Bernor, 3825 Beechgrove, and Roy E. Knight, 804 Kenlworth, both of Pontiac, Mich.

Filed June 23, 1960, Ser. No. 38,242 1 Claim. (Cl. 81-90) This invention relates to work tools generally and more particularly to a spanner wrench type of hand tool.

Spanner type wrenches are commonly known. They normally include a nut engaging socket having a leverage providing handle formed as an integral part thereof. The socket is usually of a size to fit a particular size nut and in some instances a second socket head is provided on the opposite end of the handle.

The leverage applying handle of a spanner wrench, or like tool, is preferably sufficiently long to obtain the required leverage and at the same time sufliciently short to afford an adequate nut-freeing or tightening stroke without obstruction. As regards square or hex-head nuts, the wrench is usually such as can readily obtain a succeeding bite despite minimum work-stroke clearance. Nevertheless, repeatedly disengaging and re-engaging the tool relative to the work is a tedious task; particularly in close quarters wherevfrequently less than'a quarter-turn at a time 'ispos'sib'le. 1

'-'The aforementioned requirements and shortcomings of'spanner type wrenches, as presently known, are even more apparent-as regards the single tooth type of spanner wrench.

The single tooth type of spanner wrench includes an open socket, usually semi-circular, with a work slot en-. gaging tooth extended radially inward. A handle is provided integrally therewith and, as with other spanner wrench type hand tools,.a second and succeeding sized spanner socketmay be provided on the other end thereof.

'Thetoothed type of spanner wrench is most commonly used as a special purpose toolJlThis is .most probably due" to its generally acceptedlimitation as regards grasp ing a work member at only one prescribed place; Unfortunately, this limitation restricts its use, in most instances, to a work member which is-sufiiciently accessible to enable at least a 180 work stroke; assuming the tool can be axially turned. It will also be appreciatedthat turning. the tool axially requires that the totohed part do all the work in the succeeding half-stroke since the lever stroke is then applied in separating the socket wall from the work surface and the desired wrapping of the tool about the work is not obtained.

The simplicity of the toothed type ofspanner wrench and its relative ease and economy of manufacture makes it a desirable tool from a manufacturers viewpoint. Furthermore, the tool will work with any work piece that is slotted to receive the tooth part and no special external surface shape is required to be formed on the work member.

This form of work tool is highly advantageous for use with interally threaded sleeve members having an open seam to receive the work jaw tooth of the spanner tool. This particular use for the spanner type wrench of this invention has been selected for illustration purposes and will be subsequently described in detail.

It is an object of this invention to teach a universally adaptable tooth type of spanner wrench. That is, a spanner wrench that is not subject to the positioning and stroke limitations normally attributed to similar types of spanner Wrenches.

It is also an object of this invention to teach a spannertype tool head for use with ratchet lever handles and the incident advantages obtained as a result of such combination.

Another object of this invention is to teach a spannertype tool head for use with a ratchet handle and which is of sturdy and durable construction, compact, and readily and inexpensively manufactured.

Further objects and advantages to be obtained in the practice of this invention will be more apparent upon a reading of the specification which follows, in regard to a preferred and working embodiment of the invention, and upon a study of the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a bottom plan view of the front suspension and steering system of an automotive vehicle to show the situs of the work part and the congested and obstructed area in which it is often located.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the work tool of this invention with the work part shown in phantom as engaged thereby.

FIGURE 3 is a side plan view of the work tool, as en-' i of a vehicle frame assembly 12, is shown as supporting.

the suspension members 14 and 16. Vehicle wheels 18 and 20 are engaged to the suspension members and thesteering knuckles 22 and 24 have the tie rods 26 and 28 engaged thereto. The tie rods are connected to a steering link 30 which is operated by the steering gear 32 andoperating link 34. a

The tie rods 26 and 28 each include aligned parts '36. and 38 which have their adjacent ends threaded and are engaged together by a tie rod adjusting collar, or sleeve, 40. The adjusting sleeve member 40 is internally threaded and accordingly serves as a turnbuckle to separate or pull together the tie rod parts 36 and 38 and change the overall effective length of the tie rod member. v It will be noted that the tie rod adjusting sleeves 40 are disposed in a 'very congested area. Aside from their ang'u-. lar disposition, which causes interference during adjust ment from the vehicle frame and the suspension assembly, it will be appreciated that the underpan of the vehicle body, although not shown, would also present an obstacle in attempting to turn the tie rod adjustment sleeve. The particular tie rod adjustment sleeve 40 shown in FIGURE 1, is shown in a phantom perspective view by FIGURE 2. The sleeve member includes an open seam which provides a tool engaging slot 42 thatextends the length thereof. Flanged collar members 44am provided on the ends of the sleeve part to tighten the sleeve sufficiently on the tie rod parts 36 and 38 to maintain threaded engagement therewith. The bolt and nut fasteners46, through the collar flanges, are to maintain this threadable engagement and are not intended to tighten the sleeve fixedly to the tie rod parts. The spanner-type tool head 50, of this invention, is shown by FIGURE 2 as engaged with the tie rod adjusting sleeve 40. The tool head member 50 is made from a rectangular block of S.A.E. 1010 steel. It has parallel faces and sidewalls of substantial width. It is approximately twice as wide as it is thick and a little more than twice as long as it is wide. These dimensions are not controlling other than as illustrates the general size, compact nature, and minimal material required to provide the subject device. Similarly, the material used is referred to only to illustrate the general nature thereof.

The tool head 50 has a ratchet tool receiving access 52 provided near one end thereof. This is preferably a square hole of such size as will readily receive the sprocket detent of a suitable ratchet handle member 54. An internal ball detent or dimple 56 may be provided if means Patented Nov. 13, 19 62 A socket opening or recess 58 is formed on one side edge and near the other end of the tool head member 50. The socket opening is essentially semi-circular, and of a size complementary to the adjusting sleeve '40; except that it is opened more or has an increased radius of curvature on the inner side. A radially inwardly projecting tooth 60 is provided on the outer jaw 62 of the socket opening and this accounts for the inner side of the socket being opened since the heighth of the tooth must be accounted for in engaging the tool head with a receptively slotted work piece.

The work tool 50, as engaged with the adjusting sleeve work piece 40, and shown by FIGURE 3, will be appreciated to have the tooth 60 engaged in the work piece slot 42 and to have a substantial portion of the inner Wall of the socket 58 engaged with the external surface of the adjusting sleeve for productive torque transmitting engagement therebetween.

The ratchet handle 54 that is used with the tool head 50 is considered sufficiently well-known and understood to require no description or detailed illustration.

The ratchet handle 54, as engaged with the tool head 50, enables the spanner-type tool head to be rotated about the tie rod parts 36 and 38, and to turn the adjusting sleeve 40 from any location. The tool head 50 may be rotated through 360 degrees and is at all times in firm wrapped and torque transmitting engagement with the work piece. The work handle need not be disengaged from the work except for a few degrees of are where more than a 360 adjustment is required. The ratchet head of the tool handle 54 is readily engaged within the receptive access 52 from almost any angle and enables the handle part to be disposed at a good leverage applying position and one which is free from obstruction.

The handle receptive access 52 will be noted to have the center thereof disposed tangentially of the socket 58. This arrangement assures the constant engagement of the complimentary inner surface of the socket 58 with the exterior of the work piece immediately next adjacent the work engaging tooth 60. The leverage form of the tool head 50, per se, is fulcrumed across the tangential point of engagement with the Work member and is applied circumferentially thereof for maximum torque transmitting efliciency.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 for an explanation of the operation of the subject device: 1

It will be appreciated that the ratchet handle 54 is rotatable relative to the tool head 50 in one direction and islocked relative thereto in the other rotational direction. Accordingly, the handle member serves to extend the torque applying lever arm when aligned with the tool head 50, or disposed at any angular relation resulting in a relative elongation thereof.

The handle part 54 may thus rotate the tool head 50, and accordingly the work sleeve 40, to the phantom line positions of the handle 154 and of the tool head 150, or

'4 beyond. Subsequently the handle may be separately moved to the phantom line posit-ion 254 for a better work stroke or for other reasons.

Where desirable, the ratchet handle may be engaged with the tool head, as in the phantom positions 354 and 250 of the handle and head respectively, to advance the tool head from a rearwardly disposed position. This latter engagement is accomplished by simply relocating the handle part relative to the tool head and does not require that the tool head itself be disengaged from the work piece. The same wrapped engagement of the tool head about the work is thus maintained.

It will be appreciated that the tool head 50 need never be disengaged from the work, once engaged thereto, until the required Work operation is performed. Only the handle part need be disengaged from the tool head; and then only as regards the cross over position; as for example, the top-center position in the illustrated embodiment.

While a preferred embodiment of the subject tool has been shown and illustrated, it will be appreciated that other forms and arrangements of the subject device are possible. It is to be understood that such improvements and modifications as are encompassed within the scope and spirit of this invention are inclusive under the hereinafter appended claim unless specifically excluded by the language thereof.

We claim:

A Work tool member, comprising: a solid rectangular block member having parallel side faces and including end and side walls of substantial width, a recess provided within one of said side walls and extending between said side faces, said recess being provided near one end of said block member and being arcuate in shape with an increasing radius of curvature towards the other end of said block member forming a work-engaging surface the width of said block member, a spanner wrench tooth provided near said one end of said recess within the plane of said one side wall and extending into said recess, and an opening receptive of a tool operating handle member provided through and between the side faces of said block member in spaced relation tov said arcuate recess and substantially equally spaced from the side and end walls next adjacent thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 458,337 Dodge Aug. 25, 1891 1,410,032 Palmer Mar. 21, 1922 1,568,442 Carver Jan. 5, 1926 2,669,147 Koenig Feb. 16, 1954 2,715,347 Johnson Aug. 16, 1955 2,810,313 Hermanson Oct. 22, 1957 2,981,132 Gaskins Apr. 25, 1961 

